Bridging plug setting tool



V. L. FORSYTH ET AL BRIDGING PLUG SETTING TOOL Sept. 4, 1951 Filed May 8, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INV NTOR.

T540215; L. oesvm, BY LYLE DILLON,

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 4., 1951 v. L. FORSYTH ETAL BRIDGING PLUG SETTING TOOL Filed May 8, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E /fl INVENTOR. WLo/e/s L. Foesyru,

BY LYLE DILLON,

t. 4, 1951 v. L. FORSYTH ET AL 2,566323 BRIDGING PLUG SETTING TOOL Filed May 8, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Vmaens L. FoQsYTH, BY LYLE DILLON,

ATToQn/EY.

Patented Sept. 4, 1951 BRIDGING PLUG SETTING TOOL Valoris L. Forsyth, Los Angeles, and Lyle Dillon, San Gabriel, Calif., assignors to Lane-Wells Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application May 8, 1948, Serial No. 25,946

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to well packing devices and more particularly to bridging plugs and tools for setting bridging plugs and the like devices within well boreholes and casings.

Packer devices particularly of the bridging plug type are usually employed for the well known purpose of closing or sealing off a lower portion of the well or to separate upper and lower sections thereof for various purposes. Such bridging or pluggin operations are often employed, for example, when a lower zone in an oil well has ceased to be sufliciently productive, or where the well bore has been found to extend into water-producing zones or thief sands, or for any other reason it becomes desirable to plug back or close off a lower zone or portion of the well and produce from a higher zone in the well. In some such cases where the bottom zone into which a well has been drilled fails or ceases to be sufficiently productive, it may then be desirable to explore and test a number of higher zones for their possible productivity.

Under such conditions it is the usual practice first to position and set a bridging plug in the well at a point a short distance above the top of the lowermost zone or portion of the well bore to be sealed off and then to test another prospective zone intersecting the well above the set bridging plug. If the second zone also proves to be unproductive another bridging. plug may be set in the well bore above the top of the second zone thus tested and another test made. This testing process may be repeated step by step at successively higher zones as many times as is desired.

Heretofore the process and apparatus required for lowering, positioning and setting a packer in the well and for releasing the settin tools has been more complicated, expensive and timeconsuming than is desirable, particularly under such conditions a heretofore mentioned where a relatively large number of bridging plugs must be set throughout a considerable length of the well. Furthermore, the setting of bridging plugs has usually required that special servicing, hoisting and control equipment be employed other than those available as standard equipment about a drilling and producing well. This latter situation has heretofore resulted in substantial limitations and restrictions in the use of bridging plugs in wells particularly in remote parts of the world where the special service facilities and skills desirable for such operations are usually unavailable.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide bridging plug and setting tool apparatus which will eliminate many of the undesirable and limiting features heretofore prevalent in bridging plug and setting tool operations and apparatus.

It is also an object to provide a bridging plug and setting tool therefor, of novel construction and which is simple, inexpensive and dependable and capable of rapid and efficient operation.

It is also an object of this invention to provide improved well bridging plug apparatus which may be serviced and set in a well without the use of any equipment other than that always present as standard equipment in the drilling, producing or maintenance of wells.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a bridging plug setting apparatus and bridging plug which may be run into and installed in a well with equal facility and efficiency on either standard drill pipe, tubing or cable.

These and other objects, advantages and features of novelty will be evident hereinafter.

The objects of the invention are accomplished, in general, by a novel setting tool and combination of setting tool and packer device which may be run to the desired depth, set and released in set condition in a well on and by use of standard drill pipe, tubing or cable such as a sand line, all without requiring any equipment or personnel other than those always available for or during the drilling, production or maintenance operations of a well.

In the drawings which show by way of illustration, preferred embodiments of the invention, and in which like reference character designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevational view of the general assembly of the bridgin plug and setting tool as it appears when assembled ready to be lowered into a well or when suspended within a well casing just prior to setting.

Figure 2 and 2a are fragmentary longitudinal sectional views of adjoining upper and lower portions respectively of the apparatus of Figure-1 showing, its assembled appearance just prior to setting in a casing.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 showing its action at an initial settin stage.

Figures 4 and 4a are longitudinal sectional views of adjoining upper and lower portions respectively of the apparatus showin its appearance just after completion of the setting stage.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View taken on line 1-! of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a portion of theapparatus corresponding to that of Figure 7 but showing an alternative construction.

Figure 9 is a view of the same apparatus as that shown in Figure 8 but in another stage of its operation.

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional an alternative arrangement of the apparatus providing for its suspension and actuation upon ac able. V The apparatus is as follows:

Referring now to the drawings and primarily to Figure 2a, the packer portion or bodyof the apparatus comprises a centrally located, elongated tubular body or mandrel I0 of substan- "tially uniform external diameter throughout its length and closed and terminating at its lower end by a nose piece or shoe portion I I of slightly increased diameter, an upwardly facing annular shoulder I2 being thus formed at the junction "of said mandrel body and said shoe portion. A plug 22 threaded into the bottom of the shoe Ii closes a threaded connection which may be employed for attachment of other apparatus such as; for example, a lower string of tubing or a circulating valve not shown. At the lower intermediate portion, the mandrel is formed with a short section I3 of slightly reduced diameter ingly' toothed split, lock ring I]. Thelock ring I'I is retained in an inwardly facing, annulargroove formed between upper and lower, threadedly interconnected halves I8' and I9 respectively of alock ring adapter fitting hereinafter also more fully described. A shallow an- 'nular groove 2| is formed in the upper portion of the mandrel I0 adjacent the upper end thereof 'which servesas a detent to receive the inner "toothed portion of the lock ring I'I when the packer is in the unset condition as illustrated in Figures 2 and 2a. T The upper end of the mandrel I0 is provided with internal threads 23 into which a relatively short, externally threaded connector sleeve 2 3 "is threaded. V

A' pluralityvof lower, wedgeshaped slips 25 having downwardly facing serrations or Wickers fare normally positioned about the lower end of the mandrel II] as shown in Figure 2a and retained there by a'slip retainer ring 25, attachment between each of said slips and said retainer ring being effected by a dove-tail interconnection comprising a radiall directed dove-tail slot 21 formed in the upper face of the retainer ring 25'into which a dove-tail 28 formed on the lower view of base end of the slip, fits and has .limited freedom for radial sliding motion therein to permit radial expansion of the slip.

A like set of upper slips 32 having upwardly facing serrations is provided about the upper portion of the mandrel I0 adjacent the lower end of the beforementionedlocl; ring adapter fitting 23 and these slips are similarly provided with dove-tail connections as shown at 33 to'the lower 'half I9 of the lock ring adapter fitting 20 permitting radial expansive movement of said slips.

Intermediate the beforementioned sets of upper and lower slips are a lower, upwardly diverging slip cone 35, an upper, downwardly diverging slip cone 36 and a resilient sleeve shaped packing element 31 intermediate the said slip cones, all longitudinally slidably retained upon the mandrel II] except as initially restricted by various releasable interconnecting means hereafter described. The upwardly facing base end 38 of the lower slip cone 35 and the downwardly facing base end 39 of the upper slip cone 36 serve as lower end upper abutments respectively between which the resilient packer element 31 is retained and in operation is adapted to be compressed longitudinally for deformation or expansion radially into sealing engagement with a surrounding borehole'wall or casing.

The bore of thepacking sleeve 31 is formed with an inner annular groove 40 adjacent its lower end to receive the outer portion of the 'hereinbefore mentioned'retaining ring I4. The

ring I4 is usually placed in the packer body at the time of its manufacture and is firmly bonded thereto and forms a unitary part thereof.

Each of the lower slips 25 is provided with a positioning pin fixed therein as shown at M, having its inner-end extending with a relatively loose fit into a shallow socket in the mandrel as shown at 42. Each of the slips of both the upper and lower set of slips is initially connected to the slip cone'face upon which it bears, by means of 'ashear pin or-screw as shown respectively at 43 and 44.

The lower set of slips 25 is urged upwardly by .means of a plurality of coil springs 45 retained in circumferentially spaced holes extending axial- 'ly through the flanged or shouldered portion I2 of the nose piece II and acting under compression between the lower face of the slip-retainer ring 26 and threaded, spring-retainer plugs 46.

The lower packer-abutting end 39 of the upper slip cone 36 is formed with a short counterbore 48 terminating at its inner upper end in a chamber or upwardly converging conical shoulder 49.

The lower end portion of the slip cone outside of the beforementioned counterbore, is formed with a downwardly converting conical surface as shown at 50, terminating at the intersection of its conical surface with the inside cylindrical surface of the counter bore 48, in a downwardly directed, relatively sharp beveled edge 52. The upper adjacent end of the resilient packing sleeve 31 is formed with an outer conical end portion adapted to fit and normally abut the beforedescribed conical surface 50 of the slip cone 36.

ward or downward for a short distance along a cylindrical surface formed by the downward projection of the inside cylindrical surface .ofthe slip cone counterbore 48. 'A pair of separate,

-3 and 7.

concentric annularportions of the upper end of the packing 31 are thus formed, separated by the slit 55, the inner annular portion 56 being adapted to be thrust into the inner annular space within the counterbore 48 around the packer mandrel and the outer annular portion 51 being adapted to be thrust into the outer annular space formed between the outside surface of the lower end portion of the slip cone 3B and the inside The lower the packer is thrust as shown in Figure 4a.

Referring now primarily to Figure 2, in which I the setting tool portion of the packer apparatus is illustrated, a tubular adapter sleeve 60 is shown extending upwardly from a threaded connection 6| located at the top of the locking ring adapter fitting 2d. Upon the top end of the adapter sleeve 60 is an auxiliary, well bore or casing gripping means comprising a dog retainer head 62 formed with an axial bore 63. The dog retainer head 62 is formed with two pairs of diametrally opposite, radial slots 64, 54a and 65 and 65a extending downward through the annular top portion of the head as best shown in Figures 6 and 7.

'Each slotcontains a cam-shaped dog or grip- 'ping member 66 pivotally supported therein adjacent its lower end upon a pin connection El which extends cross-wise through the lower part of the slot. The upper camshaped, free end of each dog 56 is provided with serrations as shown at 6B and the outer side thereof is provided with a groove or recess 59 through which the top portion of a helical spring normally extends when the dogs are in the retracted position shown in Figures 2, 6 and '7, from a pin connection therein as shown at H. each of the springs iii extends downward through a longitudinal slot l2 formed in the exterior surface of the head 52 to a suitable fastening therein to the head in the lower portion of the slot as shown at l3. urge the dogs 66 to pivot outwardly about their pivot points 5'! from their retracted positions as shown in Figures 2, 6 and '7 to extended positions as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

The dogs 65 are initially restrained in retracted positions as shown in Figures 2, 6 and '7 against the force of springs it! by means of a pair of retainer clips or wire tension members 14 and which extend diametrally between and make hooked connection at either end thereof with suitable eyes 16 drilled in the inner portion of the serrated ends of the dogs. It is to be noted that the general curvature of the upper or outer serrated ends of the dogs 66 opposite their pivots 61 are eccentric to the pivots or cam-shaped to rock into firm gripping engagement with the inside surface of a casing upon imparting upward movement to the apparatus relative to the easing after their release into contact with the said casing.

A setting sleeve 'i'l having an upper tubular shank portion 18 of larger diameter than the lower tubular strut portion I9 is normally positioned, as initially assembled, with the shoulder 80, formed at the juncture of said shank and said strut, resting upon the annular, top end surface of the dog retainer head 62 as shown in Figures 2, The upper end of the setting sleeve shank 18 is provided with suitable external threads 8| adapted to make screwed connection The opposite or lower end of The springs Hi acting in tension within a collar or coupling 82 when the appsratus is run into the well and set on tubing or drill pipe as shown at 83 in Figures 1, 2 and 3 or to make connection with a cable or so-called rope socket as illustrated in Figure 10 when the apparatus is run into the well and set on. a cable. Adjustably threaded into internal threads formed in the lower end of the strut portion iii of the setting sleeve 1'! is a short, externally threaded connector member 84 the lowermost unthreaded end portion of which extends into the top opening of the beforementioned connector sleeve 24 and is secured there by means of a shear pin 84a which extends crosswise through both the connector sleeve 24 and the connector member 84. An adjusting nut 85 and lock nut 86 carried on the lower threaded portion of the connector member 84 serve by proper adjustment against the top of the connector sleeve 24 to relieve or protect the shear pin 84a from any downward thrust or compression forces which may be applied through the setting sleeve. A look nut 81 carried on the intermediate, threaded port-ion of the connector member 84 serves to secure the ad justed position of the connector member within the lower end of the setting sleeve strut 19.

A shear pin 96 making a driving fit through a drilled hole in the lower end portion of the adapter sleeve 66 extend into an aligned drilled hole or socket formed in the upper end of the mandrel ID. The shear pin 95 serves as a means for initially positioning and locking the packer mandrel relative to the setting mechanism and to support the weight of the sleeve Eli and head 52 which might otherwise tend to force the upper slips 32 and slip cone t6 downward against the packer sleeve 31 and thus tend to cause premature setting of the packer.

A tubular plunger 9c is housed coaxially within the bore of the upper shank portion 18 of the setting sleeve TI and freedom for limited, guided, longitudinal motion therein. The uppermost position of the plunger St and that normally occupied by the plunger prior to setting the device in a casing is that shown in Figure 2 where a ring 9! fixed to the intermediate section of the plunger 90 makes upward contact with an inwardly extending end of a stop screw 92 under the upward force of a helical spring 93 acting under compression between the bottom shoulder of the annular clearance space 94 and the under side of the said ring 9|. The lowermost position of the plunger is usually that shown in Figures 3 and 4. In this latter position the helical spring 93 is compressed.

The tubular plunger 95 is provided at a point adjacent the lower end thereof with a pair of radially directed, diametrally aligned openings 91 which, when the plunger is in the uppermost position illustrated in Figures 2 and '7, are axially alignable with a corresponding pair of openings 98 formed through the walls of the setting sleeve strut 19 adjacent the shoulder 88. The hereinbefore described dog retainer members '54 and 15 normally extend through these aligned openings 9'! and 98 as best shown in Figure 6.

Upper and lower, lateral fluid pressure: equalization and circulation openings I90 and lill are provided through the walls of the shank and strut portions respectively of the setting sleeve Tl.

In Figures 8 and 9 an alternative arrangement of that part of the apparatus shown in Figure 7 is illustrated. In this arrangement the dogs 66a are. formed at the pivot ends with a central slot or bifurcation I04 in which a cammed lever member I05 is pivoted on the dog pins 61 for limited angular movement with respect to the dogs. The cam or stop member I06 on the inner ends of the levers I05 serves by abutting against the inner end surface of the slot I 04 at I01 to limit 'the clockwise rotational movement of the lever I05 with respect to the dog 66a as viewedin Figures 8 and 9 to that shown in solid lines at I05 but permitting the lever to rotate counterclockwise about the pivot 61 relative to the dog through a limited angle, to the position shown in dotted lines at I05 in Figure 9. Instead of employing small openings 9'! and 98 in the setting sleeve strut I9 as shown in Figure 7, elongated Windows or slot 19a are employed, which permit the inner ends of the cam levers I05 to extend into them as shown in Figure 8 or when the dogs 66a. are in their retracted positions or to extend through them into the bore of the setting sleeve strut, when the dogs 66a arein their extended positions as shown in Figure 9.

In Figure in which an alternative suspension and actuating mean is illustrated, the top end of the setting Sleeve 'I'I makes screwed connection at 8| with the lower tubular end portion of a cable or rope socket H0. The socket H0 is attached at its upper end in conventional manner to a wire rope or cable II I by means of which the whole apparatus may be suspended and lowered into a well casing.

Covering the top portion of the cable socket and telescopically slidable thereover is a tubular cap member H2 having an opening H3 in the upper end through which the cable III extends. The lower end of the cap member IIZ carries a 'cross pin H4, and a pair of diametrally positioned slots. H5 and II6 are formed in the walls of the lower tubular portion of the cable socket through which the beforementioned cross-pin extends and has freedom for longitudinal sliding motion within the limits of thelength of the slots. The cross pin H4 passes through a short tubular plunger II'I which is slidable longitudinally within the bore of the cable socket and adapted to make actuating contact with the upper end of the plunger 90.

The operation is as follows:

In running in and setting the bridging plug apparatus of this invention on tubing or drill pipe, the combined bridging plug and setting tool are assembled as shown in Figure 1 and lowered into the borehole or casing upon the lower end of drill pipe or tubing 83 to the point at which it is desired to bridge the well.

Upon reaching the point at which it is desired to bridge the well and while the bridging plug and setting tool are suspended at this point in the condition shown in Figure 1, a weight bar on what is commonly called a go-devil is either dropped down or lowered down through a pipe, on a suitable wire line to strike the upper end of the plunger 90 as shown in dotted lines at I20 in Figure 2. The downward force of the go-devil l2'0 thus applied drives the plunger 90 downward within the setting sleeve 11 against the compressive force of the spring 83 to the lowered position shown in Figure 3 resulting in the bending or breaking of the wire retainer clips I4 and from connection with eyes I6 of the dogs 66. The dogs 66 thus released pivot outwardly under the actuating force of the dog springs I0 to laterally extended positions as shown in Figure 3 in which position the serrations on the outer ends of the dogs are placed gripping position against the inside'surface adapter sleeve 60 to a position such as that illustrated in Figure 4. However, shear pin 06 initially resists such relative motion until the upward force applied to the mandrel l0 reaches the shearing strength of the pin 96. Upon shearing of the pin 96 the upward force thus applied to the bridging plug mandrel I0 is rather suddenly transferred downward through the lower portion of the mandrel to the nose or shoe II and from there is transmitted upward from the shou1- der I2 of the nose or shoe II through the bottom slip retainer ring 26, lower slips 25, shear pin or screw 03, lower slip cone 35, packing element 31, upper slip cone 36, shear pin or screw 44, upper slips 32, and thence through the lock ring adapter fitting 20 and the adapter sleeve 50 to the dog retainer head 62 and thence finally through the dogs 66 to the casing. The force thus applied after first shearing the positioning pin 06 next results in shearing of the slip shear pins or shear screws 43 and 44 thereby permitting the upper and lower slips 32 and 25 to move upward and outward upon the surface of their respective slip cones 36 and 35 into gripping engagement with the inside surface of the well casing. Following this and upon further application of upward force through the mandrel I0 the slip cone 35 is caused to move upward relative to the slip cone 36 a distance sufiicient to laterally compress and radially expand the resilient packing sleeve 31 into sealing engagement with the inside surface of the surrounding casing, all as illustrated in Figures 4 and 4a.

At this state in the setting process the bridging plug mandrel I0 will have been moved upward relative to the lock ring adapterfitting 20 a distance suihcient to carry the ratchet grooves or buttress threads I6 of the mandrel upward through and into locking engagement with the lock ring IT. The bridging plug is thereby locked in the set condition within the casing with both the upper and the lower sets of slips in holding engagement with the inside surface of the casing as shown in Figures 4 and 4a.

After setting the apparatus in the casing as hereinbefore described continued upward force is applied through the pipe 83 and the setting sleeve 'I'I finally resulting in the shearing of the shear pin 84a thereby resulting in the disconnection and separation'of the setting sleeve 11 and the connector member 8Q from the con-- nector sleeve 24 in the manner illustrated in Figure 5. The portion of the setting tool remaining connected to the pipe 83 including the collar 82, the setting sleeve 'I'I containing the plunger and with the connector member 84 attached, may then be withdrawn from the well casing. The several retainer members, shear pins and screws hereinbefore mention are designed to shear in the order named, namely first the retainer wires I4 and I5 then pin 96, followed by screws 43 and 44 and finally pins 84a. Normally pins 4! are not sheared but "merely move outward laterally with the lateral motion of the slips 25, thereby simply withdrawing the inner neds of the pins from the sockets 42 in the mandrel. The pins 4| serve, prior to setting of the packer to hold the slips retracted and bottomed against the shoe shoulder I2 against the upward force of coil springs 45. The force of the springs 45 is thus prevented from being applied against the bottom of the packing sleeve 31 which might otherwise result in premature setting of the packing during lowering of the device into the well.

Ordinarily the lower slips 25 and their retaining ring 26 remain, before and after setting,

bottomed upon the upper surface of the shoulder I2 of the shoe II. However, in event movement of the plug should occur after setting such that the resultant relative motion between the lower slip cone 35 and the shoulder I2 tended to release the lower slips 25, then the coil springs would force the said slips: to follow any such motion of the slip cone in wedging position between the slope of the cone and the inside surface of the surrounding casing.

If at any time during the lowering of the bridging plug and setting tool on the drill pipe or tubing or after the bridging plug is set and prior to detachment of the tubing and setting sleeve I! from the bridging plug it is desired or necessary to circulate fluid down the drill pipe, or tubing this may be accomplished by applying fluid pressure to the top of the pipe in the usual manner. Fluid thus introduced into the pipe under pressure will flow down through the interior of the pipe 83 to a point adjacent the collar 82 and from there the flow stream will divide, a portion Of it flowing through the annular space between the outside of the plunger 90 and the inside of the upper portion of the bore 94 of the setting collar 11 and thence outward through the lateral passage Illll into the annulus between the pipe 83 and the casing. The other portion of the fluid may flow axially through the inner passage in the tubular plunger 90, into the interior of the setting sleeve strut portion 19 and thence outward through the lateral openings 98 formed through the walls of the setting sleeve strut 11 adjacent the shoulder 80 and out through the lateral slots 65 containing the dogs 66 and thence into the annulus between the tubing 83 and the surrounding casing.

When the bridging plug apparatus is lowered into the well on cable instead of on tubin or drill pipe a suitable cable socket or so-called rope socket is substituted for the collar 82 and connected to the top end of the setting sleeve TI, and if desired, the plunger assembly SU-may beomitted from the setting sleeve 11. Wire retainer clips 14 and 15 which otherwise retain the dogs 66 in their retracted positions may also be omitted allowing the dogs to seek their extended positions in engagement with the inside surface of the surrounding well casing. As: the apparatus is lowered into the casing on the cable, the dogs 66 will merely drag in trailing attitude alon the inside surface of the casing without affordin any substantial resistance to the downward motion. However, upon arriving at the position at which it is desired to set the bridging plug and upon applying upward tension through the cable to the apparatus, the dogs being already positioned in the beforementioned extended and trailing attitude will immediately cramp or rock outward into locking engagement with the inside of the casing andresist upward motiorrof the dog retainer head 64 in thesame manner and with the same re sults as that hereinbefore described in connection with the setting of the bridging plug on tubing" or drill pipe following the tripping of the dogs into extended positions,

However, when the bridging plug apparatus is to be operated and set in a well on cable, instead of drill pipe or tubing, it is preferable to employ the control cable socket described hereinbefore in connection with Figure 10, connected to the top end of the setting sleeve I? at threads 8|,

instead of the collar 82 and the pipe 83.

When the bridging plug apparatus employing the control cable socket hasbeen lowered into the to strike theup er end oi the cap member H2; The force or the go d'evil applied drives thecap member IIZ downward over the body hi the socket IID; Downward motion is thus imparted: from the cap member" I I2 through the cross-pin- I4 and the short plunger H! to the dog releasing plunger 9i! which turn releases the retainer,

clips 14 and from the dogs 65 and thusinitiates the setting process in the same manner as that described hereinbefore in connection with the op j eration of the apparatus of Figure 1 when set on.

tubing or drillpipe.

When operating thebridging plug apparatus employing the type of dogs" and setting head. i1lus= trated in Figures 8- and 9 the dog releasing plunger Se is forced downward by either of the means, hereinbefore described in connection with either the pipe suspension or the cable suspension, from the position illustrated in Figure 8 to that illus' disconnect the retainer'clips I4 and 15 from the, dogs 66a but not sufficiently to bring the plunger shoulders down against the inner protruding ends of the lever members 105-.

When thedogs 66a have been thus released asshown in Figure 9, tension may be taken on the pipe or cable by means of which the apparatus is suspended in the well and the setting operations completed in the samemanner as that hereinbefore described. However, if' after havin released the dogs 66a to their extended positions shown in Figure 9, it should for any reason be desirable to return them to their retracted positions, then this may be accomplished by dropping a second go-devil weight down the tubing or cable as the case may be to rest upon the top of the first go-devil I20 or I20 to compress further the spring 93 and force the settin plunger downward an additional distance such as that illustrated in dotted lines at 90 in Figure 9,lto.

bring the lower go-devil shoulder IilB into contact with the ends of the lever members I05 and to force them downward rotationally about pivots;

61 to the positions shown in dotted lines at I05- in Figure 9, which isthe same retracted position shown in solid lines-at H15 in Figure 8.; Such-moaaecgaasf tion of the lever members I05, forced by the plunger 90 will by reason of the action of the cam I06 cause the dogs 66a to be'pivoted inwardly to their retracted positions. 7,

When after the dogs 6611 are released it is desired to complete the setting operations the lever members I will be caused to fold upward rotationally about pivots 61 to positions as shown in dotted lines at I05 to permit the slots 19a to be carried upwardly past the dogs 66a with the upward displacement of the setting sleeve 19 with respect to the head 62 to a position such as that illustrated in Figure 4.

:If after their release the dogs 66a have been retracted and locked in a retracted positions, as hereinbefore described, it is desired, to again release them to their extended positions, a suitable, weighted fishin tool may be lowered down the cable or through the tubing or drill pipe on a wire line and the upper go-devil weight fished from the well. The setting plunger 90 being thus relieved of the weight of the upper go-devil will then return to the position shown in Figure 9 permitting the dogs 66a to swing outward to the extended positions there illustrated in solid lines.

If desired, either one or both of the go-devils may be lowered, either through the tubing or drill pipe or down around the cable, on wire lines instead of being dropped as hereinbefore described. A single, heavy go-devil lowered on a, wire line may be employed, and by manipulation from the well surface, be caused to perform all of the several manipulations of the dogs 66 as employed in Figures 1, 2, 4 and '7 or dogs 66a as employed in Figures 1, 8 and 9.

It has also been found possible to actuate the release of the dogs 66 or'66a by inertia. Instead of employing lowered or dropped go-devils for this latter operation the weight of the setting plunger 90 and the characteristics of the springs 93 are adjusted so that upon imparting upward acceleration to the apparatus by suddenly hoisting the suspending pipe or cable, as the case may be, the inertia of the setting plunger will cause it, in effect, to move downward with respect to the surrounding setting sleeve 19 and head 62 a sufficient distance to detach the retainer clips, I4 and I5 from the dogs.

In connection with the operation of the tubing or drill pipe supported apparatus it has also been found possible to actuate the release of the dogs 66 and 66a by circulation of fluid down the drill pipe or tubing. In this case the flow restriction through the setting plunger is adjusted so that a predetermined rate of circulation of oil, drilling mud or the like fluid down the tubing or drill pipe through the plunger 90 and out of the appatus through passages 98, will cause sufiicient pressure difierential through the plunger 90 to move the plunger downward against the force of spring 93 a sufficient distance to release the retainer clips I4 and 15 from the dogs 66 or 66a.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative only and that the invention is not limited thereby but may include various modifications and changes made by those skilled in the art without distinguishing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A setting tool for an oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative movement of two of its parts comprising: a body structure including a pair of members positioned adjacent one another and-movable longitudinally withgrespect i to one another; a wall gripping member carried by a first one of said membersand movable between retracted andextended positions with re-.

spect to said body structure andoperative when extended to make gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall to resist upward'moe tion but permitting .free downward motion of bers for lowering said tool into a well bore and for moving first one of said members upward with respect to said second oneof said members when said wall gripping member is in engagement with a surrounding borehole wall; and means to couple said first one of said members to one of said parts and the second one of said members to the other of said parts of said 011 well device.

2. A setting tool for an oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative movement of two of its parts comprising: a body structure including a pair of members positioned adjacent one another and movable longitudinally with respect to one another; a wall gripping member carried by a first one of said members and movable between retracted and extended positions with respect to said body structure and operative when extended to make gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall to resist upward motion but permitting free downward motion of said first one of said members relative to said borehole wall; means to restrain said wall gripping member to a retracted position; a third member included in said body structure and movable 1ongitudinally with respect thereto and adapted by such motion to one predetermined position to actuate said restraining means to release said wall gripping member to move to an extended position; means to retract said wall gripping member operative by movement of said third member to a second predetermined position; suspension means connected to the second one of said members for lowering said tool into a well bore and for moving said first one of said members upward with respect to said second one of said members when said wall gripping member is in engagement with a surrounding borehole wall; and means to couple said first one of said members to one of said parts and the second one of said members to the other of said parts of said oil well device.

3. A setting tool for an oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative motion of two of its parts comprising: a body structure including a pair of concentrically related members movable longitudinally with respect to one another; a wall gripping dog carrying serrations at its outer end and hinged at its inner end to a first one of said members to pivot about said hinge in a, vertical, radially directed plane between retracted and upwardly and outwardly extended positions with respect to said body structure and operative when extended to make upward gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall to resist upward motion but permitting free downward motion of reases;

said first one of said members relative to said borehole; resilient means constantly urging said dog to pivot outwardly to said extended position; means to restrain said wall gripping dog to a retracted position; a third member contained concentrically within said body structure and movable longitudinally with respect thereto and adapted by such motion to actuate said restraining means to release said Wall gripping dog to move to an extended position; means for connecting a suspension mean to the second one of said members for lowering said tool into a well bore and for applying upward force and motion to the second one of said members relative to the first one of said members when said dog is in upwardly gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall; and means to couple said first one of said members to one of said parts and the second one of said members to the other of said parts of said oil well device.

4. A setting tool for an oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative movement of two of its parts comprising: a body structure including a pair of members positioned adjacent one another and movable longitudinally with respect to one another; a wall gripping member carried by a first one of said members and movable between retracted and extended positions with respect to said body structure and operative when extended to make gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall to resist upward inction but permitting free downward motion of said first one oi said members relative thereto; means constantly urging said gripping member into said extended position; means to restrain said wall gripping member to a retracted position; a third member included in said body structure and movable longitudinally with respect thereto and adapted by such motion to actuate said restraining means to release said wall gripping member to move to an extended position; suspension means connected to the second one of said members for lowering said tool into a well bore and for moving said first one of said parts upward with respect to said second one of said parts when said wall gripping member is in gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall; a coupling element carried by said first one of said members adapted to make a detachable connection with one of the said parts of said oil well device, and a coupling element carried by said second one of said members adapted to make a frangible connection with the other one of the said parts of said oil well device.

5. A setting tool for an oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative movement of two of its parts comprising: a body structure including a pair of members positioned adjacent one another and movable longitudinally with respect to one another; a wall gripping member carried by a first one of said members and movable between retracted and extended positions with respect to said body structure and operative when extended to make gripping engagement with 'a surrounding borehole wall to resist upward motion but permitting free downward motion of said first one of said members relative thereto; means constantly urging said gripping member into said extended position; means to restrain said wall gripping member to a retracted position; a third member included in said body structure and movable longitudinally with respect thereto and adapted by such motion to one position to act upon said restraining means to release said wall gripping member to move to an extended posi the second one of said members for lowering. said tool into a well bore and for moving said first one of said parts upward with respect to said second one of said parts when said wall gripping member is in gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall; a coupling element carried by said first one of said members adapted to make a detachable connection with one of the said parts of said oil well device, and a coupling element carried by said second one of said members adapted to make a frangible connection with the other one of the said parts of said oil well device.

6. A setting tool for an oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative motion of two of its parts comprising: a body structure including an outer tubular member and an inner concentric tubular member slidable longitudinally with respect to and withdrawable upwardly out of said outer tubular member; a wall gripping dog carrying serrations at its outer end and hinged at its inner end to said outer member to pivot about said hinge in a longitudinal, radially directed plane between retracted and upwardly and outwardly extended positions with respect to said body structure and operative when extended to make outward gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall to resist upward motion but permitting free downward motion of said outer member relative thereto; resilient means constantly urging said dog outwardly to said extended position; means initially to restrain said wall gripping dog in retracted position; a plunger body contained within said inner tubular member and slidable longitudinally therein, plunger being arranged therein to engage and disable said restraining means by such sliding motion to release said wall gripping dog from its retracted position to move to an extended position; and means for connecting a suspension means to the upper end of said inner member for lowering said tool into a well'bore and for withdrawing said inner member upward from said outer member when said wall gripping dog is in gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall.

'7. A setting tool for an oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative motion of two of its parts comprising: a body structure including an outer tubular member and an inner concentric tubular member slidable longitudinally with respect to and withdrawable upwardly out of said outer tubular member; a wall gripping dog carrying serrations at its outer end and hinged at its inner end to said outer member to :pivot about said hinge in a longitudinal, radially directed plane between a retracted position and an upwardly and outwardly extended position with respect to said body structure and operative when extended to make outward gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall to resist upward motion but permitting free downward motion of said outer member relative thereto; resilient means constantly urging said dog toswing outwardly to said extended position; means initially to restrain said dog in retracted position; a plunger member included in said body structure and movable longitudinally with respectthereto and adapted; by such motion to one position to engage and. disable said restraining means -to release said dog to move toxan extended position; and by such motion of said plunger member; to another position .to engage said dog'to again retract said dog; means for connecting a suspension means to the upper end of said inner tubular member for lowering said tool into a well bore and for withdrawing said inner tubular member upward from said outer tubular member when said wall gripping dog is in gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall; a coupling element carried adjacent thejlower end, of said outer tubular member adapted to make a connection with one of said parts of said oil well device; and a coupling element carried adjacent the lower end of said inner member adapted to make a frangible connection with the other one of said parts of said oil well device. 7 g a g ,8. A setting tool for an oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative motion of two of its parts comprising: a body structure including an outer tubularsleeve member and an inner concentric tubular member slidable longitudinally with respect to and withdrawable upwardly out of said outer sleeve member; a wall gripping member carried by said outer sleeve member and movable between retracted and extended positions with respect to said body structure and operative when extended to make outward gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall to resist upward motion but permitting free downward motion of said outer sleeve member relative thereto; resilient means constantly urging said wall gripping member outwardly to said extended position; means initially to restrain said wall gripping member in retracted position; a plunger member longitudinally slidably supported in said body structure and movable longitudinally with respect thereto and adapted by such motion to act upon said restraining means to release said wall gripping member to move to an extended position; means for connecting a suspension means to the upper end of said inner member for lowering said tool into a well bore and for moving said inner tubular member upward with respect to said outer sleeve member and for withdrawing said inner member upward from said outer sleeve member when said wall gripping member is in gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall; a coupling element formed adjacent the lower end of said outer sleeve member adapted to make a detachable connection with one of said parts of said oil well device; a coupling element carried adjacent the lower end of said inner tubular member adapted to make a frangible connection with the other one of the parts of said oil well device; and frangible means initially interconnecting and restraining said inner tubular and outer concentric sleeve members from longitudinal sliding motion relative to one another.

9. A setting tool for an oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative motion of two of its parts comprising: a body structure including an outer tubular sleeve member and an inner concentric tubular member slidable longitudi-' nally with respect to and withdrawable upwardly out of said outer sleeve member; a wall gripping dog carrying. serrations at its outer end and hinged at its inner end to said outer sleeve member to pivot about said hinge in a longitudinal, radially directed plane between an upwardly retracted position and an upwardly and outwardly extended position with respect to said body structure and operative when extended to make outward gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall to resist upward motion but permitting free downward motion of said outer sleeve member relative thereto; means urging said dog to swing outwardly to said extended position; means initially to restrain said wall gripping dog in retracted position; a plunger body contained within said inner tubular member and slidable longitudinally therein, said plunger being arranged therein to engage and disable said restraining means by such sliding motion to release said wall gripping dog from its retracted position to move to an extended position; means for connecting a suspension means to the upper end of said inner member for lowering said tool into a well bore and for withdrawing said inner member upward from said outer sleeve member when said Well gripping dog is in gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall; a coupling element formed on the lower end portion of said outer sleeve member adapted to make a detachable connection with one of said parts of said oil well device; a coupling element carried on the lower end portion of said inner member adapted to make a frangible connection with the other one of the parts of said oil well device; and frangible means initially interconnecting and restraining said inner and outer c0ncentric members from longitudinal sliding motion relative to one another.

10. Well apparatus comprising in combination: a device adapted to be set in a well bore by relative motion of two of its parts; a pair of members I positioned adjacent one another and slidable longitudinally with respect to one another; a wall gripping member attached to a first one of said pair of members and arranged to move between retracted and extended positions and when ex-- to a predetermined position to move said wall gripping member from an extended position to its retracted position; a suspension means connected to the second one of said pair of mem bers; a detachable coupling between said first one of said pair of members and one of the said two parts of said device; and a frangible connection between said second one of said pair of members and the other one of the said two parts of said device.

11. Well apparatus comprisingin combination rg a packer to be set by longitudinal compression in a well bore after being lowered to a desired location; a mandrell passing through said packer and adapted to act under tension to apply a longitudinal compressive force to the lower end of said packer; a sleeve adapted to act under compression to apply a balancing longitudinal compressive force to the upper end 'of said packer; a-

wall gripping member attached to said sleeve and arranged to move between retracted and extended positions and when extended to make gripping engagement with a surrounding borehole wall to resist upward movement but permitting free downward movement of said sleeve relative to said borehole wall; a tubular strut member slidable longitudinally through said frangible means locking said strut and said sleeve initially against relative longitudinal sliding displacement but rupturable upon application of a predetermined upward force through said strut from said suspension means tending to displace said strut upward relative to said sleeve.

13. The combination with a setting tool for an .oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative motion of two of its parts, apparatus comprising: a body structure including an outer an.

tubular member and an inner concentric tubular member slidable longitudinally with respect to one another; a wall gripping dog hinged at its inner end to said outer member to pivot about said hinge in a longitudinal, radially directed plane between retracted and extended positions; an openin formed in the wall of said inner tubular member; a lever coupled to said wall gripping dog and movable in said opening from a position outside to a position projecting into the bore of 11 said inner tubular member by motion of said do from retracted to extended positions; a plunger longitudinally slidable within said bore of said inner tubular member and arranged to contact the inwardly projecting portion of said lever and by longitudinal motion through a predetermined distance to move said lever and thereby move said dog from an extended to a retracted position.

14. The combination with a setting tool for an oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative motion of two of its parts, apparatus comprising: a body structure including an outer tubular member and an inner concentric tubular member slidable longitudinally with respect to one another; a wall gripping dog hinged at its inner end to said outer member to pivot about said hinge in a longitudinal, radially directed plane between retracted and extended positions;

an opening formed in the wall of said inner tubular member; a frangible connector restraining said dog in retracted position, extending through said opening into the bore of said inner tubular member; a plunger longitudinally slidable within said bore of said inner tubular member and arat its inner end to said outer member to pivot about said hinge in a longitudinal, radially directed plane between retracted and extended positions; an opening formed in the wall of said inner tubular member; a frangible connector restraining said dog in retracted position, extending through said opening into the bore of said inner tubular member; a lever coupled to said wall gripping dog and movable in said opening from a position outside to a position projecting into the bore of said inner tubular member by motion of said dog from retracted to extended position; a plunger longitudinally slidable within said bore of said inner tubular member and arranged to contact first the said frangible connector and second the inwardly projecting portion of said lever and by longitudinal motion through a predetermined distance thereby first to break said connector to free said dog to move from a retracted to an extended position and second to move said lever and thereby move said dog from an extended to a retracted position.

16. The combination with a setting tool for an oil well device adapted to be set, after being lowered to a desired location within a well bore, by relative motion of two of its parts, of apparatus comprising: a body structure including an outer tubular member and an inner concentric tubular member slidable longitudinally with respect to one another; a wall gripping dog hinged at its inner end to said outer member to pivot about said hinge in a longitudinal, radially directed plane between retracted and extended positions; means urging said dog to pivot to its extended position; an opening formed in the wall of said inner tubular member; a frangible connector restraining said dog in retracted position, extending through said opening into the bore of said inner tubular member; a lever coupled to said wall gripping dog and movable in said opening from a position outside to a position projecting into the bore of said inner tubular member by motion of said dog from retracted to extended positions; a spring supported plunger longitudinally reciprocable within said bore of said inner tubular member and arranged by downward motion to contact first the said. frangible connector and second the inwardly projecting portion of said lever and by longitudinal motion downward through a predetermined distance thereby first to break said connector to free said dog to move from a retracted to an extended position and second by reciprocating motion to move said lever and thereby move said dog between extended and retracted positions.

VALORIS L. FORSYTH. LYLE DILLON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 344,849 Miller et al. July 6, 1886 2,295,418 Mims Sept. 8, 1942 2,373,006 Baker Apr. 3 1945 

